Improvement in machines for making barrels



C. W. THOMPSON. Machine for Making Barrels.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

g Barrels. Patented July 9 |878.

fave/afar.

Mil/afwas I N, PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAP UNITED STATES PATENT OE'EIcE.

CLARK W. THOMPSON, OF WELLS, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR MAKING BARRELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,923, dated July 9, lSTS; application ilcd May 1, 1877.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK W. THOMPSON, of Wells, in the county of Fa-ribault and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usef'ul Improvements inl Machines for Making Barrels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved machine, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a sheet of veneer from which the barrel is to be made, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the veneer.

A A1 A2 A3 are square or rectangular frames, made preferably in one piece, of cast metal, each being composed of two legs or posts, a cap-plate, and a girt, A3. The frames A1 A2 are connected with eachother by means of a wide sill, A, upon each side of the machine, the whole being secured to the floor by means of bolts a, which pass through the feet of the posts, thus forming a strong rigid frame-work, upon which the operative parts of the machine are supported.

B Bl are shafts mounted in bearings upon the frames, and provided with righthand screw threads at B,' and left hand screwthreads at Bl. B2 B2 are spur-gears keyed to shafts B B1.' B3 is a spur-gear keyed to shaft b and meshing with gears B2 B2. b1 Kb2 are beveled friction-pulleys, also keyed to shaft b. C is a beveled frictionlpulley, arranged between pulleys bl b2 on shaft c. O' is a band-wheel on shaft c.

c1 is an eccentric-levelyrin which the end of shaft c is supported in such manner that by moving this lever from the positiomshown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1j,

the friction-pulley @may be released from' pulley b1 and caused t0 engage lwith pulley b2, and the direction of rotation of the screwshafts B B1 thereby reversed, the belt-pulley C1 being driven continuously in one direction.

O2 is a link connecting eccentric-lever c1 with a hand-lever, C", pivoted at o2 to the sill A4, C*l is an arm projecting at right angles from hand-lever C, and carrying an adjustable weight, G5, secured in position on arm O4, by a set-screw, e3.

A semicircular standard, c, rises from the sill A4, and has a notch, c5, cut in its upper surface, in which the lever O3 rests when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l.

E E are cup-shaped dies, having, with exception to be hereinafter noted, an internal conformation conforming to the desired external conformation of the barrel. El El are carriers projecting from each side of each die, these carriers being fitted wi th internal screwthreads, which engage with the threads of shafts B B1, so that as these shafts are rotated in onedirection the dies approach each other, a reverse motion of the shafts moving the dies from each other, as will be readily understood.

E2 is a tripping-rod, attached to and traveling with one of the carriers El. Rod E2 slides in a groove formed in the upper face of the curved standard c4, and carries at its rear end a wedge, e, and also an adjustable collar or lug, c1, located nearly in a line with the outer end of the die.

e? are flanges projecting inwardly from the smaller outer ends of the dies. Connected with each die is a bell-shaped or conical follower, F, mounted upon one end of a shaft, F1.

F2 is a cross-bar, sliding freely upon the screw-shafts B B1. Shaft F1 is attached near one end to the cross-bar F2, and has its other end supported in a boxing or strap, f, upon frame A1 or A2, in such manner that the shaft and follower are free to move backward and forward when actuated, as will be hereinafter explained.

f1 is a collar on shaft F1, near boxing f. f2 is a locking-latch, pivoted at f3, with its free end interposed between flange f1 and the boxing f when not held out of such position by rod f5, bell-crank lcverfi, and rod f 6, as will be explained.

The edge of the follower F is formed into a lwedge-shaped ring or flange, j'7,"the inside of which is flaring to fit the outside of the barrel, the outside of this flange forming a shoulder, f", at the point where it joins the bodyof the follower, with which shoulder the ange e2 of the die engages as the die is forced upon the barrel, as is indicated in Fig. 1.

The inside of the die is chambered out at this end to receivethe liangefi, and the inside of the flange forms, practically, a continuation of the inner face ofthe die.

G is a contractinghoop, formed preferably of coiled steel wire, as is fully set forth in another patent of mine.

H 1l are elastic pusher-fingers attached to a head, h, which is supported upon and carried by a bar, Il', sliding on shafts Il l. These pusher-lingers are elastic, and their free ends clasp the outside of the follower l upon opposite sides. Any number ot' tingers may be used; but in practice l prel'er to use six o1 eight.

hl h are cords or chains connected with bar II', and running over pulleys attached to one of the frames hl li2 are weights attached to the pendent ends of cords l1l li, to draw the pusher-fingers backward from a position into which theyhave been forced b v devices which I will next proceed to describe.

I I are draw-rods, connected rigidly at one end to bar ll, the other end of each draw-rod sliding freely in an elongated slot in the bar Fz at the opposite end of the machine, it being, ofcourse, understood that there is one of the cup-sliaped dies, one follower, one elastic hoop, and one set of pusher-fingers at each end of the machine.

f1'l il are hooks on the carrier l. tripping-inclines on the draw-rodsl I. are tripping-pins in the slots in the bars F2.

)Vlien preferred, springs may be employed to keep the drawrods in contact with the tripping-pins, except when they (the rods) are forced away t'roin the pins by the trippingin` clines P.

K (shown partly in full lines and partly in dotted lilies in Fig. 3) is a saddle, supported upon standards L, one at each side ofthe niachine, at a point between the inner ends of the dies, to support the barrel both before and after it has been acted upon by them, (the dies.)

M is the barrel, shown in a tlat sheet of veneer, with a suitable iiiunber of gores cut in from both edges, (see Fie'. 4,) and having the customary cliaiiifer m and croze m'. (See Fig. 5.) It is bent into cylindrical shape, and placed upon the saddle K, between the dies, the latter having been withdrawn as far as possible from each other.

The hand-lever C3 is then thrown into the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, which causes the friction-pulley (l to impinge upon pulley b2, and rotate the screw-shafts B B1 in such direction as to force the ciip-sliaped dies E upon the ends of the barrel and compress the ends of the saine into the desired shape.

As the dies advance toward each other their tianges e2 engage with the shoulders f8 of the cone-followers F, and force the lla n ges f upon theendsofthestaves. (SeeFigsJand.) 'lhis advancing movement of the dies moves the trippiiig-rod E2 forward, so that when they (the dies) reach the desired point the wedge e forces the lever out of its retaining-notch v" i2 i2 are ('15 [3 in standard c4, when the weighted lever C" (l5 moves the lever into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, thus carrying friction-pulley C into contact with pulley b, and causing the screw-shafts B B1 to rotate in an opposite direction, which moves the dies in an opposite directioii-that is, away from each other.

When the dies were carried forward, as in Fig. 1, the hooks il became engaged with the shoulders of the dogs or teeth i' on the drawrods, so that as the dies move backward each one draws forward the bar I1' at the opposite end of the machine, with which it is connected by a pair ofthe draw-rods. This forward movement of the bar Il aiid pusher-ngers Il crowds the elastic hoops G over the expanding cone-shaped follower F and its ilange f7, producing a high tension of the hoop, until the hoop engages with the barrel, the fingers being now in the position represented by dotted lines, Fig. 3. At this point the trippiiig-iiicliiies i2 1'? engage with the tripping-pins i3 i, Fig. 3, and release the dog-teeth i' from the hooks 1" i* on the carriers E, and the weights h2 and chains hl draw the bars Il and pusher-tingers Il backward upon the follower F, the position ot' all the parts at this stage in the operation being shown in full lines, Fig. 3.

The dotted lilies G in this figure represent the position occupied by the elastic trusshoop on the cone-follower before the pushertin gers were advanced.

The locking-latches f2, which are interposed between the collar fl and the boxings j' at each end of the machine, prevent the dies from drawing the flanges f7 of1" the ends of the barrel when the dies are first started backward; but before the dies reach the position shown in Fig. 3 they have come in contact with the rodsfi, and, by means of these rods, bell-crank levers f4, and rods f5, have lifted the latches, so that the further backward movenient of the dies will Withdraw the flanges f7 from the barrels, the dies being in contact with the bars F2, and carrying the bars, shafts Fl, and follower F back with them, as can be readily understood from an examination of Fig. 3 without further explanation.

Just before the dies reach the eXtreme limit of their rearward movement the adjustable collar and dog or spur el strikes the hand-lever (J3 and moves it (the lever) such distance as will release the friction-pulley C from pulley b and stop the fnrtherrevolntion of the screw shafts B B.

The barrel is now removed with its elastic truss-hoops. New hoops are placed upon the cone-follower, as in full lines in Fig. l, and dotted lines, Fig. 3. Another veneer-cylinder is placed in the saddle K, the hand-lever is moved into the notch e5 :in the curved standard, and the above-described operation of bending the staves and trussing a barrel is repeated.

From the above description and an examination of the drawings it will be seen that an important feature of my invention consists in connecting the devices which thrust the elastic contracting hoops upon the ends of the barrels with the forming-dies, whereby as both of the dies retreat these hoops are advanced. Thus, the simultaneous advancing and withdrawing of both dies become valuable, they being thus made to perform a function which is new in this class of machines.

So, also, retaining the ends of the staves in position or shape after the dies are withdrawn and before the contracting-hoops are put on is a feature which is in great measure dependent upon simultaneously advancing and withdrawing the forming-dies, from the fact the withdrawal of these retaining-hoops is effected by devices actuated by the forming-dies.

Another important feature in my system of manufacturing barrels by the use of the llerein-described apparatus is, that I am enabled to manufacture barrels from green timber, which I accomplish as follows: I first cut the veneer and chamfer and croze it at the same operation. I then pa-ss it through a machine which cuts the desired number of gores in it, after which it is formed into a cylinder, and held by any form of hook which may be most convenient. It is next placed in this machine and the ends of the staves bent into the proper shape, and the cont 1actin g-hoops G placed upon their ends.

After the barrel has been thus shaped I remove it from the machine, and season it either in the open air, by artiiicial heat in a suitable kiln, or by the use of superheated steam in a properly-constructed receiver.

It will be readily understood that the contracting-hoop Gr will retain the edges of the staves in the position in which they are thus placed darin g the operation of seasoning; and that by the use of this machine, in combination with the contracting-hoop, I am enabled to manufacture a barrel directly from green timber without any intermediate operation of seasoning or trussin g.

What I claim is- 1. In a machine for makin g barrels, two forming-dies operated by screw-shafts, and simultaneously forced upon both ends of the barrel by the rotation of the shafts in one direction, in combination with mechanism, substantially as described, for reversing the direction of rotation of the shafts, whereby the dies are simultaneously withdrawn from both ends of the barrel, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for making barrels, the combination, with the dies E E, of right and left hand screw-shafts for supporting and actuating the dies, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for making barrels, the combination, with a forming-die which compresses the b. rrel into the desired form, of a hoop which is thrust upon the end of the barrel by the advancing die, and independent mechanism for applying an elastic compressing-hoop, which is passed over the end of the barrel after the die is withdrawn from contact with the barrel, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for making barrels, aforming-die which compresses the ends of the staves into the desired shape, a contractinghoop adapted to retain the ends of the staves in the position in which they have been placed by forming-die, and mechanism, substantially as described, which expands the contractinghoop and places it upon the end of the barrel.

5. In a machine for making barrels, a formin g-die which compresses the end of the stavcs into the desired shape, a contracting-hoop mechanism, substantially as set forth, which expands the hoop and places it upon the end of the barrel after the forming-die has been withdrawn from the barrel, and a support for the barrel separate and apart from the forming-die, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for making barrels, the combination, with the forming-dies, of a retaining-hoop which is forced upon the end of the barrel by the advancing die, and mechanism actuated by the said die for withdrawing the said hoop from the barrel, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for making barrels, a formingl die which compresses the ends of the staves into the desired shape as it advances upon one end of the barrel, and a hoop arranged at the opposite end of the barrel, in combination with a hoop-driving mechanism, substantially as described, whereby when the forming-die recedes froln the end of the barrel the said hoop is advanced upon the opposite end of the barrel.

8. In a machine for making barrels, the combination ofthe followin gelements, namely: a forming-die which advances upon the barrel and compresses the ends of the staves into the desired shape, a hoop placed upon the ends of the staves by the said advancing die, a locking device which holds the hoop in its place upon the barrel when the die begins its receding movement from the barrel, and mechanism connecting the die with the hoop, substantially as described, to withdraw the hoop from the barrel as the die is completing its receding movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARK W. THOMPSON.

'itnesses:

H. H. DOUBLEDAY, M. l?. CoLLAN. 

